2. Agilbertus.
IN the meane time it had fallen out that Kinigilsus dying, [ 650] kenwalchus his sonne raigned in his stéede: who refusing the offer of the kingdome of heauen by refusing Christ, lost also soone after his earthly kingdome. He had maried the daughter of Penda king of Mercia or Mid-England, & (vpon what occasion I know not) putting her away, married ano∣ther. For this cause Penda tooke armes against him and for∣ced him out of his kingdome. Then for succour he fled vnto Anna king of Esser, a good man and very religious, in whose court he liued the space of thrée yéeres, and there was first brought vnto the faith of Christ. By the helpe of this good Prince he also was restored to his kingdome againe. His fa∣ther had pulled downe the temple of Dagon, and begun the building of a very faire church in Winchester, but was taken away by death before he could finish it, and for maintenance of the ministers of the same had alotted al the countrey round about within seuen mile of the city. This building Kenwal∣chus finished, and not onely ratified the foresaid gift of his fa∣ther, but also himselfe bestowed vpon the same church the mannours of Downton, Alresford and Wordiam. Soone af∣ter the conuersion of Kenwalchus, one Agilbertus (a French∣man borne) that had spent a great time in Ireland in preach∣ing the Gospell there, came into this countrey ann. 650. and of his owne accord tooke great paines in instructing the peo∣ple. The king being giuen to vnderstaud of his learning and painefulnesse, prayed him to accept the pastorall charge of his Countrey; whereunto he agréed and continued in the same a long time.